CABINET OFFICE

Members/Peers Correspondence

David Miliband: I am today publishing a report on Departments' and Agencies' performance on handling Members' and Peers' correspondence for 2004. Details are set out in the attached table. Departmental figures are based on substantive replies unless otherwise indicated.
	The footnotes to the table provide general background information on how the figures have been compiled.
	
		Correspondence from MPs/Peers to Ministers and agency chief executives(1)
		
			  2003 2004 
			 Department or Agency Target setfor reply(workingdays) Number oflettersreceived Percentageof replieswithin target Target setfor reply(workingdays) Number oflettersreceived Percentageof replieswithin target 
		
		
			 Cabinet Office 15 443 90 15 637 88 
			 Department for Constitutional Affairs(2) 20 2,746 49 20 3,416 64 
			 Court Service 15 464 95 15 429 95 
			 HM Land Registry 20 48 96 20 44 95 
			 National Archives 15 30 90 15 149 100 
			  10* 34 100
			 Northern Ireland Court Service — — — 15 14 92 
			 Official Solicitor and Public Trustee — — — 15 17 100 
			 Public Guardianship Office 15 95 88 15 134 93 
			 * Target for correspondence sent direct to Agency Chief Executive.   
			 Crown Prosecution Service 15 298 88 15 520 98 
			 Department for Culture, Media and Sport 18 5,460 85 18 4,817 78 
			 HM Customs and Excise3 4 18 2,040 62 18 1,321 51 
			 Ministry of Defence(3) 15 5,565 76 15 5,989 62 
			 Armed Forces Personnel 15 93 98 15 126 99 
			 Administration Agency   
			 Army Personnel Centre 15 16 94 — — — 
			 Defence Estates 15 24 88 15 11 100 
			 Defence Housing Executive 15 14 79 — — — 
			 UK Hydrographic Office 15 14 100 — — — 
			 Veterans Agency 15 251 94 15 287 99 
			 Warship Support Agency — — — 15 15 91 
			 Department for Education and Skills 15 14,424 92 15 15,313 93 
			 Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 15 10,410 68 15 14,305 81 
			 Food Standards Agency 20 981 13 20 782* 59 
			 20 78** 95 
			 * Letters where Health Ministers have replied.   
			 ** Letters where Chief Executive/Chairman has replied.   
			 Foreign and Commonwealth Office 20 30,168 80 20 26,942 83 
			 UK Visas(5) 15 16,964 86 15 12,849 45 
			 Department of Health6 20 19,029 54 20 20,140 80 
			 NHS Estates(7) — — — 20 112 73 
			 NHS Pensions Agency 10 63 84 — — — 
			 NHS Purchasing and Supplies Agency — — — 20 57 60 
			 Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency 10 26 85 10 284 81 
			 Home Office (non IND correspondence) 15 (20 days 37,153 58 15 9,445 76 
			  for IND) 
			 Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND)(8) — — — 20 35,802 34 
			 Criminal Records Bureau 10 461 92 10 272 95 
			 HM Prison Service(9) 20 1,437 65 20 1,154 73 
			 UK Passport Service 10 337 79 10 486 74 
			 Inland Revenue(3) 18 2,803 81 18 2,993 85 
			 * Local Tax Office delegated figures (where local tax offices have 18 1,795* 35 18 1,601* 4510 
			 replied to direct to MPs) 
			 Valuation Office 18 13 77 18 18 83 
			 Department for International Development 15 3,676 88 15 4,686 80 
			 Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Lord's Office 15 43 88 15 60 87 
			 Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers 15 325 65 15 404 63 
			 Northern Ireland Office 10 503 69 10 567 68 
			 Compensation Agency — — — 7 125 67 
			 Northern Ireland Prison Service 10 44 68 10 48 85 
			 Office of the Deputy Prime Minister 15 8,737 73 15 10,135 81 
			 Planning Inspectorate 8 384 89 8 379 81 
			 Office of the Leader of the House of Commons 15 385 96 15 504 95 
			 Scotland Office 15 73 87 15 82 77 
			 Department for Trade and Industry 15 14,678 58 15 11,807 72 
			 Companies House 10 33 100 10 56 98 
			 Employment Tribunals Service(11) — — — 10 61 93 
			 Insolvency Service 10 34 88 10 33 94 
			 Patent Office 10 484 98 10 297 84 
			 Department for Transport 15 10,196 88 15 8,593 86 
			 Driving Standards Agency 15 108 90 15 198 79 
			 DVLA 7 1,028 99 7 1,276 100 
			 Highways Agency 15 263 85 15 285 95 
			 Maritime and Coastguard Agency 10 33 97 10 20 100 
			 Vehicle and Operator Services Agency 15 25 92 15 13 77 
			 HM Treasury(3) 15 4,036 83 15 4,316 86 
			 National Savings and Investments 15 24 70 15 74 92 
			 National Statistics 15 193 84 15 189 95 
			 * Letters where National Statistician replied on Ministers' behalf 10 104* 84 10 133* 73 
			 Treasury Solicitor's Department 10 34 100 10 49 98 
			 Wales Office 15 120 82 15 109 92 
			 Department for Work and Pensions 20 12,157 74 20 13,319 86 
			 Appeals Service 15 84 88 15 50 98 
			 Child Support Agency(12) 20 3,521 87 15 5,390 88 
			 Jobcentre Plus 15 1,052 69 15 1,136 90 
			 The Pension Service 15 1,157 50 15 1,340 89 
			 Disability and Carers Service 15 554 99 15 451 100 
			 Debt Management 15 31 85 15 25 100 
			 Child Benefit Centre 20 11 91 — — — 
			 Health and Safety Executive 10 195 91 10 127 70 
		
	
	(1) Departments and agencies which received 10 MPs/Peers letters or less during 2004 are not shown in this table. Holding or interim replies are not included unless otherwise indicated.
	(2) Internal restructuring and changes to the correspondence handling system undertaken during second half of 2004. As a result, performance improved to 88 per cent during that period.
	(3) Includes all ministerial correspondence.
	(4) Downturn in performance due to internal restructuring and changes in the correspondence handling system. Introduction of new system improved performance to 82 per cent in the last quarter of 2004.
	(5) Unit is aware of poor performance in 2004 and is taking the necessary measures to improve performance in 2005.
	(6) Performance improved to 91 per cent in final quarter of 2004.
	(7) Includes eight letters sent directly to agency chief executive, 100 per cent were answered within the 10 working day response target.
	(8) IND experienced a 46 per cent increase (a 13 per cent increase in ministerial correspondence) in correspondence in 2004. Difficulties following the roll out of a new correspondence handling system led to significant delays. Necessary measures are being implemented to improve performance in 2005.
	(9) Includes a small number of interim replies.
	(10) Performance suffered due to exceptionally high volume of complaints received concerning working and child tax credits generally as claimants became familiar with a new system. Further efforts are being made to improve internal correspondence handling systems which will lead to an improvement in performance.
	(11) Includes four letters sent directly to agency chief executive, 100 per cent were answered within the 10 working day response target.
	(12) Response target reduced from 20 to 15 working days in 2004.

DEFENCE

Sea King Helicopter

Adam Ingram: I am announcing today the award of a contract to Westland Helicopters Ltd. for phase one of the Sea King Integrated Operational Support Programme, part of the wider Defence Logistics Transformation Programme, which is seeking to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of military logistics support to the front line. The contract is worth £300 million over the first five years, with a price review thereafter, and includes the provision of technical and spares support to the Sea King fleet. It will result in savings of some £50 million over ten years, which is a considerable improvement on current support costs.
	There are seven different variants of Sea King currently in service with the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force in a variety of roles including maritime, air sea rescue operations and support to land forces. The Sea King Integrated Operational Support programme will improve the way in which support is provided for the Sea King platform, focusing on maximising aircraft availability, improving spares delivery and reducing through-life costs. It will secure the ability of the Sea King to continue operations in support of the UK Armed Forces in the future.
	Phase 2 of the programme is expected to be implemented in around eighteen months' time, subject to a successful performance review against Phase 1 implementation.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Houses in Multiple Occupation

Keith Hill: The Government are today publishing the summary responses on the key issues raised in our consultation on the implementation of HMO licensing. Copies of these responses have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. In addition, the Government are announcing the decisions we have made in respect of a number of issues which are necessary to achieve implementation in October 2005. An analysis of responses on the complete range of questions asked will be published in due course.
	"Licensing in the Private Rented Sector: Consultation on the Implementation of HMO Licensing" sought to explain the Government's proposals for licensing in the private rented sector, as contained in the Housing Act 2004. It invited interested parties to comment on how these powers should be implemented, in particular through asking questions about the possible form that the necessary items of secondary legislation should take.
	The paper asked a series of questions on a number of different subjects, including the following key issues:
	the threshold for mandatory licensing,
	the property types to be exempted from HMO licensing,
	whether to enact management regulations for all HMOs (licensable and non-licensable),
	whether to prescribe national amenity standards,
	whether to specify a cap for licensing fees.
	The consultation period ended in February and we have now analysed responses and reached decisions on these key issues so that we can start drafting the appropriate secondary legislation that will allow these important measures to be commenced by autumn this year. We are also keen that all relevant stakeholders are made aware of these decisions as early as possible to allow them to begin preparing for the introduction of licensing.
	On most of these issues, the majority of respondents agreed with the proposals set out in the paper. Discussions have also been held between officials and stakeholders at a working group comprising representatives of local government, landlords and tenants.
	The Government are introducing licensing as a measured response to the problems of the private rented sector. And in doing so we are keen to strike the right balance between setting clear national benchmarks and giving local authorities the discretion to respond to local housing market conditions. This is a difficult trade off and there is no single solution that applies in all cases. We propose a mixed solution as follows:
	i) the threshold for mandatory licensing will apply to HMOs comprising of three or more storeys and occupied by five or more persons (comprising at least two households);
	ii) we will define for these purposes, "storeys" as including basements and attics if they are occupied (including by a resident landlord) or have been converted for occupation or which are in use in connection with the occupation of the HMO. Commercial premises on the ground or any upper floor will also be included in the calculation of number of storeys, but not basements in purely commercial use. We will not specify when a mezzanine floor is to be included, as this will depend on a case by case basis the actual use of such a floor in the HMO e.g. whether or not it used for habitable purposes,
	iii) we will not make any rules concerning the calculation of persons for licensing purposes, in effect this means children will be counted from birth in the same way as adults;
	iv) student accommodation owned and managed by educational establishments will be exempted from the licensing requirements, on condition that the body has in place an approved code of practice;
	v) we will not specify a cap on licence fees at this stage, relying on CBPFA guidance on the treatment of costs and the audit process to ensure that fee levels remain proportionate. Discussion will begin shortly with the landlord associations and local government on ways in which license applications can be processed as quickly as possible, subject to important safeguards;
	vi) we will enact management regulations that will apply to all HMOs, whether licensed or not. The regulations will take the form as set out in the consultation paper listed at SectionS;
	vii) we will set national minimum amenity standards that will enable authorities to ensure that HMOs are licensed for the requisite number of occupants. We will make a further statement in May which sets out the details of those standards.
	viii) we will not set maximum national room sizes for HMOs as we believe the appropriate sizes will depend on the quantity and condition of the often diverse HMO stock in an authority's area as well as the pressure on the rented market.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Parliamentary Database

Jack Straw: In order to ensure that we can provide hon. Members with a better service, both in London and when they travel overseas, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has set up a new database which will enable us to record the foreign affairs issues in which they are interested. We will keep solely factual information which is already in the public domain, for example details of the all party groups and assemblies of which hon. Members are a member, and of overseas and inward visits (eg Inter-Parliamentary Union and Commonwealth Parliamentary Association delegations) in which they have taken part. This should enable us better to tailor information and assistance to hon. Members' needs.
	Hon. Members who wish to register an interest in a particular country, region or foreign affairs topic, or to see a copy of their entry in the database, are invited to e-mail to PRDTEnquiries@fco.gov.uk

Barcelona Process

Denis MacShane: At last November's EuroMed Foreign Ministerial in the Hague, EuroMed Foreign Ministers launched a review of the first 10 years of the Barcelona process and its future direction. A copy of the UK's national contribution to the Barcelona review has been placed in the Library of the House.
	We believe that the review provides the opportunity to refocus the priorities of the Barcelona process and help ensure it delivers results that have a real positive impact for EU and Med Partner citizens. We want to see the review generate a real debate among all EuroMed Partners, and in their civil societies, of how to enhance the partnership. We believe that EuroMed should be guided by the principles of the EU's strategic partnership with the Mediterranean and Middle East and the European Neighbourhood Policy, but mostly by the desire of Mediterranean Partners for the EU's engagement and assistance in meeting the challenges of political, social and economic development.
	Our national contribution proposes a strategic approach to achieving the vision set out in the 1995 Barcelona declaration. We want to focus EuroMed on achieving a limited number of 10 year targets on governance, education and economic reform. Improved education systems and more vigorous open market competitive economies are crucial to economic growth in EuroMed countries. Without these countries will not be able to take advantage of trade liberalisation and the creation of a EuroMed Free Trade Area by 2010. And improved governance based on democratic institutions, and civil society institutions especially for women and free media, will facilitate the achievement of these targets, as will focused and effective development assistance from the EU.
	This is an ambitious agenda, but one whose success is critical to removing the barriers to development in the Middle East and North Africa and to enhancing the relationship between Europe and that region. The review will be negotiated amongst the 35 EuroMed Partners, all of whom will have their own aims and objectives. It will be submitted to Ministers at the EuroMed Foreign Ministerial in May and will constitute the main input to the EuroMed 10th anniversary event, which the UK will host jointly with Spain in November in Barcelona.

Sudan

Bill Rammell: With the support of Her Majesty's Government, the United Nations Security Council on 29 March 2005 adopted resolution 1591, which extends the Darfur arms embargo to cover all parties to the N'djamena Ceasefire Agreement and any other belligerents in the states of North Darfur, South Darfur and West Darfur.
	Resolution 1591 (2005) also imposes an assets freeze and a travel ban, with conditional exemptions, on individuals who impede the peace process, constitue a threat to stability in the Darfur region, commit violations of international humanitarian law or human rights law or other atrocities, violate the arms embargo or are responsible for offensive military overflights in an over the Darfur region. The measures are effective 30 days after the adoption of the resolution, unless the Security Council decides that the parties concerned have complied with their commitments in the peace process and demands made by the Council in this and previous resolutions. Resolution 1591 (2005) also established a UN sanctions committee and a panel of experts to monitor implementation and enforcement of the measures.

PRIME MINISTER

General Election Guidance (Civil Servants)

Tony Blair: I have written to ministerial colleagues providing guidance on the conduct of Government business during the election period. Guidance for civil servants on their conduct during this period has also been issued to Departments. The guidance comes into force with immediate effect.
	Copies of all the documents have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses and on the Cabinet Office website.